There is an enormous body of evidence that substantiates YOUR chiropractic care.
Evidence Based Chiropractic Care in a small office with a big heart. Dr. Lou Jacobs – Over 16 years experience in the U.S. and Europe. Located in Portland, Maine. (207) 774-SPINAL1
If you are the type of person who wants medical research to back up your care in any type of office, you’ll be happy to know that Evidence Based Guidelines for treatment frequency and duration of chiropractic care exist and are used in many offices.
When searching for a chiropractor, you should understand the degree to which they follow the chiropractic clinical guidelines. These guidelines lead to the best understanding and the best acute care. These offices also tend to have fewer issues with insurance companies, thereby making your life easier.
What does the evidence show?
If you have had pain for more than 8 days, waiting to see if it would improve, your recovery time may be 1.5 times longer than if you begin care within the first 8 days of symptoms.
If you are in severe pain, the recovery time may be 2 times longer than if your pain is mild.
If you have had greater than 3 episodes of the same symptoms in the past, the recovery time may take up to two times longer than if you have had fewer than 3 previous episodes.
If you have an underlying skeletal anomaly or structural pathology, or have a preexisting condition, it may take 1.5 times to 2 times longer to recover.
When these issues above are compounded with one another, the recovery time may take even longer.
Frequency and repetition matters!
In a study published in the journal SPINE in 2004, pain relief while under chiropractic care improved dramatically with more frequent visits. At 1 visit a week the improvement was 28%, at 2 times a week it was 38%, at 3 times a week it was 49% and at 4 visits to the chiropractor each week, at the end of 4 weeks the improvement was 65% more. The likelihood of disability that prevents you from doing what you need to do, became less likely with more frequent visits. At once a week over four weeks there would be a 36% decrease in disability, at 2 times a week 41%, at 3 times a week 60% and at 4 times a week 74% decrease in disability.
Research and clinical experience, when coupled with a talented chiropractor, will get you the best possible results in the shortest period of time. Do YOUR research!